Monday, February 23, 2015

So recently, I went on a NY adventure. I mean I go on a lot of those, especially since I'm only a 40-minute train ride away, but I make sure to do something different every time I go. And while I am still waiting for the day my finances and timing permits a further and more vacation-y destination, New York will be my go-to escape. Which is just as fulfilling since I always discover new reasons to love this city. For instance, I went to the New York Public Library and Grand Central Station for the first time and I was in complete awe of how magnificent and beautiful they were. Being two of New York's oldest architectures, I was in love with how meticulously detailed and artistically crafted they were. Everything from the ceiling murals to the Greek-inspired wall pillars enhanced the astounding aesthetic. I seriously just get lost in it all. Honestly, in another life, I'd probably study architecture only because it fascinates me so much. I also went to a really quaint Japanese soba noodle restaurant in East Village. It was my first time having it and I really enjoyed it. I mean I was more interested in what made it such a Japanese favorite since its taste and preparation was much simpler than American foods, but it made me more curious about their culture. Like why is buckwheat soba so popular? And why do they eat it cold? I mean, my friend and I were so foreign to the cuisine that we had to ask our waitress how to eat it. We felt stupid at first but I loved that it was something new for us to try and learn.

It was just another adventurous day in NY with lots of eating and walking, but it made me hunger for more travel. And not just in NY but to other places, too, like Greece or Spain or Singapore. Just thinking about the amount of knowledge I'll gain simply by exploring makes me crave for it so much. I can't wait 'til I satisfy my curiosity. But until then, grindin' and hustlin'.

Alright, so back to the outfit. I was so excited when Tobi wanted to send me some goodies. I've always been a fan and now I get a chance to style their stuff! I paired their charcoal knee-slit pants with a cozy plaid sweater and added in color with my thrifted checkered coat. It's completely okay to pair two different patterns since the checkered pattern on the coat was subtle and didn't take away from the sweater. The colors also complemented each other nicely. Because I was already layering up on the top, I wanted to keep it balanced by wearing my warm rag socks peeking out of the boots to give it a more wintery look. And of course, no look of mine is complete without a hat. The outfit overall reminded me of something you wear to a winter getaway out in the Poconos.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

I know it's been quite some time since I've posted but you know, life gets in the way sometimes. I'm sure we've all been there. Anyways, I'm wishing everyone a happy belated Valentine's Day because showing the people you love shouldn't be designated to one day a year, we should show it as much as we can, especially in the chaos of living life. Mine was spent as any other Saturday working then dancing but it absolutely made my heart melt when I saw all the adorable things people did for each other, whether it was a significant other, friend, family, pet, etc. It was so nice to see people remind each other how important they were in their lives.

A majority of my girlfriends are in relationships or are dating someone and it makes me so happy to see how happy they are. In fact, I thought I would be a little bitter about it this Valentine's Day but instead, I couldn't help but wish they had a beautiful loving day with their significant others. I mean, I'm so used to being surrounded by such independent women who demonstrate that being alone doesn't mean being lonely that when I see them get giddy and all adorable around their guy, it makes my heart warm. I don't get to see this vulnerable side of theirs and it's nice that they aren't afraid to show it to that special someone. Of course, I'm not saying being single isn't great because trust me, I am loving every minute of it. But seeing my friends happy makes me happy and that's all you can really wish for on special days like Valentine's Day. Anyways, to all my taken ladies, don't be afraid to let your heart grow. And to my single ladies, don't be afraid to open up your heart again.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

So as I'm writing this blog post, I'm quietly enjoying my snow day off working from home. A little while ago, I probably would have tried to make plans and take advantage of this day off to fill it with hangouts and adventures and basically anything that avoid being alone. But as I'm wrapped up in the comfort of my warm, soft blanket, lounging in my pj's and catching up on me-time, I realize that I don't need to spend my days off always surrounded by company to feel socially secure and my worth validated. In fact, I feel even more empowered when I am stripped of social guises to mask my inner thoughts and feelings from outsiders and open to my true emotional cues in solitude. It's refreshing and liberating--I feel more beautiful this way than I do under the clothes and makeup I put on to the world. And when you feel safe and secure being alone, then nothing else can break down that guard of self-satisfaction because you've found your lovely quiescence.

I kept it simple with this outfit but the beauty is in the details. During this season, I keep it basic with a sweater and jeans because in dropping temperatures and unpredictable snowy weather, I'm too cold to think of anything else. However, I decided to add a little bit more to show that even a simple outfit like sweater and jeans can be dressed up just a tad more. I absolutely adore my off-the-shoulder sweater. I think showing collar bones is so sexy, even more so than showing some cleavage or stomach. But it can still look reserved and classy. I paired it with my Levi's white skinnys since the deep burgundy and black hat was already a dark contrast. And the tie-around black and white flannel gave the outfit some pattern to break up the solid colors. It's so simple yet it's still a favorite outfit of mine just because of its balance of classy and sexy and comfort.

Let's all take a moment to revel in our sweet, sweet me-time. We all deserve it, anyways.

The girls are back! I told you we had more collaborations coming and if you missed our first one, make sure you check it out here!

So instead of coordinating our outfits based on colors this time, we decided to contrast our outfits in bold colors. Me in stark all white and Sam in dramatic wine red. You can almost say it's our stylish version of the angel and devil (although, Sam is no devil!). We also accented each other's outfits to bring out the vibrant colors. Since I'm black haired and tan, I went for an all white look. And I don't know who ever said it was wrong to wear white in the winter because if you ask me, it's probably the best time to wear white. Especially for someone with my complexion and hair color, it's when we look most radiant and glowing. Sam stood out more in the deep red to contrast her fairer skin and lighter hair. And she totally rocked those bold red lips! Her beige cardigan and black and white scarf lightened up the heavy color.

I like how we portrayed this specific collaboration simply because it reminds me of how different people can be yet still find a way to complement each other. Sam and I definitely come from completely different backgrounds but we share the same strong passion for our personal goals. She with dance and me with fashion. And when you're surrounded by people who are equally passionate about something with continuous motivation and drive, you can't help but feel pushed and determined yourself because if they can do it, so can you. I was so glad to be able to collaborate with same because aside from the amazing photos and coordinated outfits, I was able to share a bit of my passion with hers while she showed me a clip of hers. (Watch here!)

That's the beauty of working with various talents--we get to share it with others.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

I feel like I've been an a positivity high lately. And if you haven't already noticed my attitude change in the past couple of blog posts, then you'll definitely get it in this post. I just can't help but share my latest life epiphany and the wonders it's brought. I don't mean to sound like a self-help book or a motivational speaker, but it's something important that's happened for me, especially since I've grown up as such a negative and discouraged person all my life. This is such a beautiful breath of fresh air. My friend recently suggested this movie called "The Secret" (I'm pretty sure it's a book, too) that's mainly about getting into the mindset of believing positive things happen and when you do so, more positive outcomes will present themselves. It's actually funny because before I even heard of this movie, I was already starting to do this on my own. Every night, I would write down at least 3 things that made me happy that day and the more I started doing that, the more positive things happened. I wish I was exaggerating it, but honestly, I can't lie about how many opportunities have opened up for me ever since I became more aware of the positives in my life. As corny and borderline too-good-to-be-true it may sound, it really has helped me become an overall better person. And that's my secret.

So of course I would feature Reverie NY in this post as I talk about hopeful beginnings. It seemed pretty fitting enough since I am on a personal reverie. Remember my wintery Reverie NY post here? Well, here's another piece I love from their unique NY style. The blazer is a boyfriend fit so it's oversized and loose. But my favorite part is the detailed under-collar. Aside from the unconventional, clean cut, the collar detail makes this blazer different from the rest, which is just what I needed since my only boyfriend blazer is pretty basic and old. I paired it with my printed thrift shift dress to bring out some color and added a little extra with my heart suspender tights.

2015 is the year of collaborations for me. Or at least that's how it's starting out, anyways. But I don't mind because it gives me a chance to network with so many talented individuals and who aren't just in fashion either. We all have something special to share with the world and we all deserve a little more recognition than we're given. That's why I'm trying to meet people who are just as passionate about something they love as I do with fashion. Meet Sam Glennester, one of the most talented and dedicated dancers I know in NY. For those who don't know, I do dance on the side and I definitely look up to her as one of my inspirations so it was pretty amazing to get to collaborate with her! Check out her latest video here.

For our first shoot together we wanted to keep it edgy and tough in black, white, and hints of red. I wanted to make sure we displayed our own style while keeping the colors the same. Being a NY dancer who travels all the time, Sam likes to make sure she's comfortable above all else but that doesn't mean she compromises her street style. Here she pairs a crop top with a suspender skirt and an Obey bomber jacket. I, on the other hand, am always adding a chic and sophisticated flare to my outfits. I played with textures by pairing my quilted leather jacket with my quilted sweater and pleated skirt. Two different style that complemented each other pretty nicely. And by the way, we were freezing our asses off shooting that day if you couldn't already tell by our red noses (I guess it matched the color palette).

Expect many more Mai/Sam collaborations to come! (Hint: we did another outfit on that cold, cold day too)